Outside of a military department or army headquarters office, it was quite unusual to find staff officers at this rank. The heads of each service department (such as Quartermaster, Ordnance and Commissary) held ranks no higher than brigadier general. Tax-in-kind and depot commissaries and quartermasters normally held the rank of captain. Offices in charge of a Congressional district usually held the rank of major.

The only realistic possibility as a commissioned Confederate staff officer would be as a colonel in the Judge Advocate's Department.